Rumor Scotched

A rumor was laid to rest last week in the Flowery Kingdom of the Emperor of Japan. It had been suspected and asserted that Japan, uneasy over the failure of the Naval Limitations Parley at Geneva (TIME, June 27 et seq.), was attempting to revive the Anglo-Japanese alliance, killed in 1923 by the accords made previously (1921) at the Washington Naval Conference.

To these insinuations the Japanese Foreign Office gave the lie direct, a fact which pleased and was accepted by foreign observers. Said the Foreign Office spokesman:

"Japan's policy does not contemplate exclusive relations with Great Britain and we have conducted no exclusive negotiations with that country concerning naval or any other questions.

"Our whole policy aims at co-operation and good understanding with the United States and England and other powers having an interest in this part of the world. The Washington Four Power Treaty gives us the right of full and frank consultation with the signatory powers and if difficulties arise we shall exercise that right.

"But no move has been made for the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese alliance since it was dropped, and as far as the present Government is concerned none is contemplated."